Electric signal for gasoline tanks



June 19, 1923. 1,459,154

L.. GRUZLER ELECTRIC SIGNAL FOR GASOLINE TANKS F,i1ed March 26. 1921 Patented June 19, 1923.4

UNITED `S'llATllS LEOPOLT GRUZLER, 0F CHICAGOLILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL Fon GAsoLniia TANKS.

Application led March 26, 1921. Serial No. 455,768.

To all whom 'it may concer/n.'

Be it known that-If, LEoPoL'r GRUZLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Signals for Gasoline Tanks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in electric signals for gasoline tanks, and has for its object the provision of a signal device which will indicate when the fuel supply in the gasoline tank is nearly exhausted.

Other objects. will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing my device applied to a tank and the members in position while the tank is supplied with fuel, parts being shown in section; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the members in position when the supply of fuel is exhausted.

My invention comprises a cylindrical metal casing 5 mounted upon a supporting base or cap 6 which is provided with an upwardly projecting central neck 7 having an opening 8 therein. A glass tube 9 is mounted inthe casing 5 over said neck 7 and the opening 8 in said base and communicates through said opening with a feed pipe 10 fastened to a tubular stem 11 depending from the lower side of said base.

A hollow aluminum ball or float 12 has vertical movement in the tube 9 and is provided with a rod 13 which extends through an opening 14 in the upper end of said tube and carries electric contacts 15 at its upper end. Saidyelectric contacts 15 are adapted to engage co-operating contacts 16 and 16 provided at the upper end of said tube adjacent the opening 14. A wire 17 leads from the contact 16 through an insulation 18y provided insaid casing 5 to one pole of a storage battery 19 of any suitable type, and a wire 20 leads from the opposite pole of 'said battery to a signal lamp 21 from which the current is conveyed by a wire 22 through an insulation 18 in the casing back to the other contact 16 on said tube. The free end of the feed pipe 10 is fastened to a tank 23 and a valve 24 may be interposed in said pipe near the tank. The supporting base 6 of the metal casing and the battery are mounted in a convenient place on the automobile near the tank. andthe light is mounted on the forward part of the` automobile where it .may be readily seen byfthe driver.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for` carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention..

I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the said neck with the interior of the fuel tank,

a float in said tube, electric terminals mounted on said tube, insulation tin opposite parts of said casing, an electric wire connected with each of said terminals and. extending through said insulation, .and an electric switch mounted on and actuated by said fioat for engaging said terminals and closing the circuit of said electric indicator.

2. In a gasoline supply indicator for an automobile tank, a caslng, a base supporting said casing, a tube mounted in said casing upon a neck on said base, a feed pipe mounted von an extension beneath said base and connecting the interior of Said tube with said tank. a float controlled by the gasoline in said tank, a stem on said float and extending above said tube, electric light terminals mounted directly on the upper end of said tube, and a plural armed electric switch on the upper end of said stem for engaging said terminals when the gasoline in the tank is nearly exhausted.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEOPOLT GRUZLER.

Witnesses:

Fai-:DA C. AyrLE'roN, CYNTHIA Goxonow. 

